Artificial leg.



Patented Oct. l4, I902.

J. A. PEER.

ARTIFICIAL LEG.

(Application flied Dec. 16, 1901.)

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Patant ed Oct. I4, I902. J. A. PEER.

ARTIFICIAL LEG.

(Application filed Dec. 16, 1901.)

No. 7I0,996.

I I I M. \w w w 2 Shanta-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

N R K UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN A. PEER, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO ARTHUR L. BLESSING, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

ARTIFICIAL LEG.

SPECIFIGATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 710,996, dated October 14, 1902.

Application filed December 16, 1901- Serial No. 86,138. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: which are secured together along vertical Be it known that I,JOHN A. PEER, a citizen edges at front and rear. The outer stiffenof the United States,residing at Philadelphia, ing-bar a extends from the knee-joint to a in the county of Philadelphia and State of point somewhat above the hip-joint and is Se 5 Pennsylvania, haveinvented certain newand cured to the outside of one of the side poruseful Improvements in Artificial Legs; and tions a preferably by riveting in such man- I do hereby declare the following to be a full, ner as to leave the inner face of said side porclear, and exact description of the invention, tion (which is preferably formed of leather such as will enable others skilled in the art to or other flexible material) perfectly smooth. IO which it appertains to make and use the same. The bar a is also preferably incased by means My present invention is an improvement in of a strip a, sewed or otherwise secured to the artificial leg covered by my former patent, the side piece a and the rivets which secure No. 694,325, dated February 25, 1902; and it the bar a to the side piece may or may not consists in the novel features hereinafter deextend through the strip a, as preferred. The i5 scribed, reference being bad to the accompaside piece a will be cutaway from points adjanying drawings, which illustrate one form in cent to the top ofthe bar a down to the front which Ihave contemplated embodying myinand rear edges of said side piece, as shown, vention, and the said invention is fully disand it may also be provided with cut-out porclosed in the following description and claims. tions a at the upper part to make it cooler, as 20 Referring to the said drawings, Figure 1 shown in the drawings. The inner stiffenrepresents a perspective View of my improved ing-bar a is secured to its adjacent side piece artificial leg arranged for use with a member a of leather or other suitable flexible mateamputated above the knee. Fig. 2 is a verrial, by riveting or otherwise and is covered tical transverse sectional view of the same. by a strip a, like the other stiffening-bar. 25 Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section of the The inner bar a is shorter than the outer same. Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical longibar as it extends up along the inner surface tudinal section of the foot. Fig. 5 is atransof the thigh of the wearer. The front and verse section of the same on line 5 5 of Fig. 4. rear edges of the flexible side portions a a Fig. 6 represents a section on line 6 6 of Fig. are adjustably united in any suitable mano 4:. Fig. 7 is a view showing detached the ner, as by lacing,,as shown in the drawings, parts of the joint used for the ankle and toe although I do not limit myself to the use of portions of the foot. Fig. 8 is a detail showlacing as I may employ any equivalent coning the manner of attaching the crotch-pad. struction. The upper part of the thigh-sec- The object of my invention is to improve tion is provided with astrap S, which extends 5 upon the artificial leg shown, described, and from the rear and outer side around the inclaimed in my former patent, No. 694,325, ner portion and is secured to abuckle 3, prodated February 25, 1902, said improvements vided on the front of the thigh-section, this consisting in an improved foot construction, strap being for the purpose of tightening the a removable knee-piece, an improved connecthigh-section at its upper end and to carry a 40 tion between the thigh-section and the waistportion of the weight supported thereby to the belt, and certain other details of construction upper end of the outer side stiffening-bar, as hereinafter described, and specifically pointwill be readilyseen. In order to prevent the ed out in the claims. upper and inner edge of the thighsection from The leg consists of three partsto wit, the producing chafing and soreness, I prefer to 45 upper or thigh section, the calf or lower secpad it, as shown at 25, (see Figs. 2 and 8,) and tion, and the foot-section. to further provide a detachable crotch-pad In the drawings, A represents the thigh- T, which extends over the padded portion 15 section, which comprises an outer vertical and has its outer end slit to receive the strap stiffening-bar a, an inner stiffening-bar a, S, (see Fig. 8,) thereby holding said padin po- :00 50 said bars being composed of wood or light sition.

metal, and the flexible side portions a a The outer stiffening-bar a is provided at its upper end with abelt A,to be secured around the waist of the wearer. This belt is provided with a metal plate I), provided with a horizontal slot b, which pivotally and slidingly engages a stud 19 secured to the outer stiffening-bar a, and is provided with a head. This construction allows of pivotal and sliding movements between the stiffening-bar and the belt and facilitates the use of theleg in sitting, bending, &c.

Each of the flexible side pieces a (t is provided with two or more pairs of slots a at difierent heights to receive the straps c c of a sling 0, provided with a cushion or pad upon which the stump of the leg (if a thigh amputation) can rest gently. The ends of straps ccare passed through one pair of slots ct in each side piece and secured by any desired means, such as buckles a secured to the side pieces, one adjacent to each of said slots, as shown in the drawings.

The lower or calf section D of the leg is also provided with inner and outer stiffening-bars d d, secured to flexible side pieces 01 d and covered by strips (1 d like those of the thighsection, and the edges of the flexible side sections are adjustably secured at front and rear by lacings or otherwise. The flexible side portions of the thigh and calf sections are cut away at front and rear adjacent to the kneejoint (hereinafter described) to facilitate the action of the knee-joint and also to allow a portion of the leg of the wearer below the knee-joint to project rearwardly if the leg is to be used in such manner.

The thigh and calf sections of the leg are connected by two spring joint or hinge connections G,the construction of which is shown in detail and claimed in my former application above referred to and need not be particularly described herein.

I also provide the thigh and calf portions of the leg adjacent to the knee-joints with removable and adjustable cross-bars K for boldingthe stifiening-bars at the required distance apart. These devices are exactly alike and a description of one will apply to the other. The cross-bar K comprises two threaded bolts 7.; 5, passing through the opposite side stiffening-bars and rigidly secured thereto by nuts 7a on the inner sides thereof, and a central sleeve 73, provided with right and left hand interior threads, and a central flange P, which is constructed to enable the sleeve to be rotated. These devices are also covered by my said former application.

I also provide a hollow knee-section R, composed, preferably, of leather, havingits lower end 1" hemispherical in form and united to the upper tubular portion, which is preferably slit vertically at front and rear, as shown at 'r, to facilitate fitting it into the lower part of the thigh-section. The cylindrical portion of the knee-section may be held in place in any desired manner; but I find it convenient to lace it to the thigh-section by means of the same lacings which are used to lace the front and rear parts of the side portions together. This knee-section will obviously only be used where the amputation is above the knee and will in such case give a natural appearance by distending the clothing properly above the knee.

The foot-section L of my improved artificial leg is shown in detail in Figs. 4, 5, 6, and 7 and is constructed as follows: Z represents the ankle portion of the foot-section, which is preferably hollowed out at its upper end, as shown at Z, and is provided with a vertical slot Z and with lateral recesses Z Z extending from the top down to horizontal shoulders Z 1 (See Figs. 1, 2, and 5.) The lower ends of the stiffening side bars cl (1' of the calf-section fit into said recesses and are secured to the foot-section by a bolt M, which passes through the slot Z and is provided with a suitable nut m. By this means the length of the leg can be adjusted a distance equal to the length of the slot Z and the necessity of having so many sizes of legs in stock is avoided, as a few sizes can be made to accommodate persons of all the varying heights. When the stiffening-bars are adjusted above the shoulders 1 blocks Z I will preferably be inserted between the ends of said bars and the shoulders, as shown in Fig. 5. The bottom part of the ankle-section Z is provided with the front and rear beveled faces i Z and a rear flange Z Z represents the main foot-section, provided with a recess Z at the top to receive the ankle-section and a recess Z on the under side. The rear part of the upper portion is made to fit within the flange Z The two parts are connected by an improved anklejoint of peculiar construction, the parts of which are shown in detail in Fig. 7. The joint comprises two plates N N, the lower one, N, being provided on its lower side with a central hemispherical recess n and threaded apertures to receive retaining-screws n n and having oil-receiving recesses n n in its ends closed by suitable plugs p n of cork or wood. The upper surface of the plate N is rounded to receive the semicylindrical upper plate N, which directly engages it, and the plate N is further provided with oil-holes 91 n extending from the recesses n n to the upper face of the plate to supply oil between the plates N and N. The oil-recesses 91 17. are filled with heavy oil, which may be absorbed in waste or other absorbent material, if desired, and this joint is thus kept lubricated at all times. N represents the connecting-bolt, which has a hemispherical head n fitting recess 72 in plate N, and extends through a IIO section Z is provided on its lower faces Z and l with spring-receiving recesses 1 1 and the footpiece Z is provided with opposite recesses Z Z In these recesses, one pair of which are arranged forward of and the other pair in rear of the ankle-joint, I locate compression-springs Z l flwhich give the requisite elasticity to the ankle-joint while permitting the easy movement of the parts. The recess 1 in the bottom of the foot-section is closed by a leather-covered pad Z held in place by a screw Z The front portion of the footpiece Z is provided with a toe-piece Z connected to the footpiece by a joint P, exactly similar to the ankle-joint, previously described, and springs pp are interposed between the two parts in front of and in rear of the jointP to permit the toe-piece to move with respect to the footpiece and to restore it to normal position in walking, thus rendering the use of the artificial leg easy and natural and obviating almost entirely the awkwardness usually accompanying the use of an artificial leg. The bottom of the toe-piece is preferably provided with a leather-covered pad Z held in place by a screw 1, as shown.

I/Vhat I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. An artificial leg, comprising amongits members a foot-section, a calf-section,a thighsection hinged to the calf-section and provided on its outer side with an upwardly-extending portion adapted to extend above the hip-joint, and a belt, having a pivotal and sliding engagement with said upwardly-extending portion, substantially as described.

2. An artificial leg comprising among its members a thigh-section provided with side stiffening-bars, the outerbar being extended upwardlya greater distance than the inner bar, flexible side portions connected to said stifiening-bars, adjustable devices for connecting said side portions, a stud secured to the upper end of the outer stiffening-bar, and a belt having a longitudinally-slotted portion pivotally and slidingly engaging said stud, substantially as described.

3. An artificial leg, comprising among its members the thigh-section and calf-section each provided with lateral stiffening-bars, and flexible side portions and connections for holding said side portions together, hinge connections between the stiffening-bars of said thigh and calf sections and a detachable hollow knee-piece, secured to one of said sections and having a rounded portion projecting into the other section, substantially as described.

t. In an artificial leg, the combination with the calf-section, of the thigh-section hinged thereto and provided with lateral stiffeningbars, the outer bar being extended upwardly beyond the inner bar, a strap extending around the upper part of the thigh-section from the top of the outer stiifeningbar to the top of the inner stiffening-bar, to transfer a portion of the weight of the wearer to the outer stiffening-bar, substantially as described.

5. In an artificial leg, the combination with the calf-section, of the thigh-section hinged thereto and provided with lateral stiffeningbars, the outer bar being extended upwardly beyond the inner bar, a strap extending around the upper part of the thigh-section from the top of the outer stiffening-bar to the top of the inner stiffening-bar, to transfer some of the Weight of the wearer to the outer stifiening-bar, and a crotch-pad, arranged over the inner part of the upper edge of said thigh portion and having a flap or part engaging said strap to hold the pad in position,

substantially as described.

6. An artificial leg, comprising among its members, the foot-section provided with parts movable with respect to each other, and a joint connecting said parts, including aplate secured to one of said parts having a rounded upper surface, a hemispherical socket on its under side, and a transverse slot communicating therewith, a semicylindrical part engaging the other part, and fitting over the rounded portion of said first plate and abolt having a hemispherical head engaging the corresponding recess in the first plate, passing through the slot therein, and through the second plate and provided with a securingnut, substantially as described.

7. An artificial leg comprising among its members, the foot-section provided with parts movable with respect to each other, and a joint connecting said parts including a plate having a rounded upper face, a hemispherical recess in its lower face, oil-recesses within said plate and oil-holes communicating therefrom to the said rounded face, a second plate curved semicylindrically and engaging the rounded face of the first plate, and a bolt extending through a transverse slot in the firstinentioned plate, and through an aperture in said second plate and having a hemispherical head engaging said hemispherical recess, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN A. PEER.

Witnesses:

JOHN E. MOCULLY, THOMAS G. HAwKEs, 

